Elastolin

Lore & Background

Production of all figures was interrupted when the German economy was put on a total war footing in 1943. Limited production of composition figures resumed several years after the end of World War II in 1945. Hausser continued to use the brand name Elastolin when it began production of figures in hard polystyrene plastic in 1955, while production of figures in the older sawdust-based composition material continued into 1969. Hausser production of plastic figures continued through 1982. The company filed for bankruptcy in June 1983 and ceased production by the end of the year.

Elastolin composition figures were manufactured in 40mm, 65mm, 70mm, and 105mm scales. The 70mm scale is approximately 1/24 scale. The Elastolin catalogs of the 1930s describe the 7-cm figures as normal size and the 4-cm figures as Miniatur-Soldaten. The Heer, Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, and numerous paramilitary organizations were represented, including SA, SS, LSSAH, RAD, NSDAP, Hitler Youth, Jungvolk, BdM, and Marinesturm. Personality figures included Hitler, Göring, Hindenburg, Ludendorff, Hess, Goebbels, von Schirach, Raeder, von Mackensen, Mussolini, and Franco. The figure of SA leader Ernst Röhm was dropped after his execution in 1934, and the figure of General von Blomberg became a generic General figure after his forced retirement in 1938.

Combat troops, camp life figures, and wounded soldier sets were produced for the Heer, including gas alarm strikers and gas mask-wearing infantry. The Kriegsmarine had marching figures in blue winter and white summer uniforms. The Luftwaffe included Flieger and Flak troops, with some figures sold at the same price as Heer counterparts but now commanding higher prices at auction, requiring collectors to watch for post-war repaints.

Reader's Guide

Elastolin's significance lies in its comprehensive depiction of Nazi-era German military and paramilitary organizations during the 1930s and early 1940s. The company produced an extensive range of figures covering the Heer, Kriegsmarine, Luftwaffe, and numerous paramilitary groups such as the SA, SS, RAD, and Hitler Youth, as well as personality figures of key Nazi leaders. The catalog numbering system, with branch-specific prefixes and series numbers, allowed collectors to identify figures precisely. The transition from composition to plastic in 1955 extended the brand's life, but production ceased after bankruptcy in 1983. The figures are notable for their historical accuracy in uniform details and for representing aspects of military life such as camp scenes, wounded soldiers, and training exercises. The inclusion of figures like the gas alarm striker and message dog handlers reflects the historical context of World War I and World War II. Collectors today must be aware of potential post-war repaints, particularly for Luftwaffe Flak and motorcycle troops that were sold at the same price as Heer counterparts but are now valued higher. The Elastolin line provides a detailed material record of how German children's toys represented the military and political culture of the Nazi period.

Did You Know?

• Elastolin figures were made from sawdust-based composition material until 1969, with plastic production beginning in 1955.
• The figure of SA leader Ernst Röhm was dropped from the line after his execution during the Night of the Long Knives in 1934.
• Elastolin produced a figure of a unit clerk who came with his own table, bench, and typewriter.
• The catalog number for a 4-cm marching Heer snare drummer was M 47/1.